Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-14
ASSASSINATED IN THE STREET.
Mr. Joseph C. G. Kennedy DOKyed by
q Murderer and Stabbed to Death.

AhH SonoNHnS . ANSSESE IO-DAY-THE kELAIIUSS
BETWEEN Mr.. KENNEDY AND HIS NURpERER.
tragedy Of a most startling character oc-
CURED about i've O'Clock yesterday afternoon at
the corner OF 18th street and New York avenue,
While the street was filled with people. The VIC
tim was Mr.. Joseph c. G. Kennedy, q venerable
and much respected citizen. The murderer was
John Daily, trampish looking fellow, who ap-
pears to have hung about the corner for several
hours with numerous knife concealed in his
pocket waiting for opportunity to assassinate the
white haired old man as he left his office. Mr..
kennedy, who has for years, been engaged in
business as real estate agent and bank attorney,
18th street, just north OF Riggs & Co.'S. banking
house. Yesterday afternoon at S, the business for
stroled across the street to the northeast corner
OF 10Th street and New York avenue, with pack
age @ 1i papers In his hands which he deposited in
the letter-bOx at the corner,
TIE MURDERoUs ASSAULT.
Then, 1t appears, he started from the letter-box
toward 14th street car that was standing at the
junction, and had taken only step or two when
he was overtaken by a thick-set, ill-favored man,
some accounts OF those who witnessed the start
ih s Sa' was quickly over say that Daily
back with his fist, and as Mr. Kennedy turned
ABOUT ne plunged knife into his abdomen. At
side OF the abdomen. Mr. Kennedy grappled with
his burly assailant and they both sank to the
GROUND, H Mr II Kennedy crying out as he fell, "Oh.
the grasp OF The old man and rose to his feet. Mr.
kennedy called "pOlice," and resting upon one
siooW kept MS eyes fixed and his band pointed at
down upon the asphalt pavement. All this hap
pened SO quickly that the few people who WITT
had occurred. There were many people about the
railroad junction and soon the utmost excitement
prevailed.
THE ASSASSIN ARRESTED.
Then Daily was seized by Mr.. Clarence Cobb
and Henry Mason, a colored special officer on duty
In the Safe Deposit Company's Office. DIR. Ruth, Of
the Navy, who was passing by, came to the assist
ance OF the dying man, and, with Others supported
him during the few minutes that he breathed
The gathering crowds showed some disposition to
execute summary vengeance upon the assassin,
and the police to whom he was turned over as a
measure Of safety, handcuffed him and took him to
Nafrn & OgramS drug store. on the southeast
corner, where he was guarded until he was taken
In the police wagon, to the third precinct station
The body Of MIR. Kennedy was removed to the
mOrgue and an hour or so later taken to his house.
1907 street, where his aged wife and other men,
bers OF his family, who had already been informed
OF the deplorable occurrence, were Frustrated by
shock and grief.
WHAT THE PRISONER SAID
After the murder Daily seemed to be stolidly
COOL and much less excited than the crowd that
gathered about the spot When siezed by Mr.
Cobb he said: eyes, done it," and when asked
why he had done it replied, in a surly tone, "Wel
robbed me, and now have got even with him.
He claimed that Mr.. Kennedy had cheated his
father and himself In real estate transaction,
and that he had waited for long time to get even.
On the way to the police station when asked why
he had murdered an tnoffensive old man, he sad:
s1t Will come out: l mistook him for another
man." At the police station when searched a
razor was found in his right shoe. He said he was
hfty years Old, and was born in Tipperary, Ire
land. The weapon with which he committed the
crime yesterday afternoon Is large caSe-kntfe,
the blade having been ground down until 1t was
pointed like dagger. Daily is OF medium height,
quite bald and has short gray beard covering
his face. He wore well-worn suit OF clothes and
coarse cotton shirt. When STAR reporter saw
him In his cell last night he was disinclined to
talk. II know what have DONE" he said, ''and
| know what the penalty is." He said he had not
been drinking yesterday further than to take three
lions he said ts nothing but p talk, TR talk. nv
head aches, and don't want to talk" He said TO
the reporter that he had not done any work for
ten years, as he was not strong enough; and that
he had no family. He had no regular home, he
said, but 'l1ved around"
WHAT THE POLICE KNOW OF DAILY.
But very little is known by the police about the
prisoners movements in this city. He first made
himself known to them, so far as can be ascer-
tanned, on the 10th day OF December. 1855, when
to the hospital permit was issued to him. ana
he was sent TO the Washington Asylum as sick and
INDECENT. At that time he gave his age as fifty
two years. and said he had lived in this city five
years. The sanitary 0r1cer thinks he had proba-
bly, been on Spree and that he went to the asy-
lum to get over the eflects OF It. He did not how
the 22d OF tue same month by Oicer Fisher for as
saul1ing Dr. Wallace Elliott. The assault occurred
doctor was walking along the pavement
| and was surprised by Daily striking him
on the head with brick. Oficer Fisher
arrested Daily, and he said ne struck the doctor
because he thought the latter was a Catholic
priest. He was taken before the Police Court
where he s. was fined $50 OF 2 80 days He was
days later he appeared at Sanitary Of1cer Teeples
ONCE in police headquarters, and was again sent
to the Washington Asylum. The records of the
police department do not show that he has been
arrested since that time.
THE MURDERED MAN.
Mr. Kennedy was born in Meadville, Pa, April
s12, and was descendant OF the well-known
Ei colt family, which founded EllicOtt City, Nd,
ng grandson Of that Ellicott who, at the re-
quest OF President Washington conveyed through
Thomas Jefferson, surveyed the ten miles square
which was afterward constituted the District OF
Columbia He He was prominent 1en in politics In early
supported in the columns OF the Franklin (Pa.)
Iateiligencer, OF which he was editor and pro.
December iS4s, and took Charge Of the census @ Of Of
1850 and also laid out the rules and plan for the
| conduct OF the census OF 1860. He then became
ness he has devoted himself ever since acting for
national banks banks and d. many prominent and
wide acquaintance among the prominent
men at the capital and he was generally well
known and respected. On the 1st or April, 1886,
Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy celebrated their fftteth an.
niversary OF their wedding. He leaves wife and
three children-COl JOS. Kennedy, Miss Sallie
Kennedy, and married daughter, the wife OF
! Gen. Bidweil, Of California. The latter was in
Washington last winter and was quite prominent
| In society circles.
This morning package Of papers was received
| from Mr.. Kennedy, through the mail by the re-
cOrder OF deeds, and this was the package mailed
| by MI. kennedy just previous TO the attack upon
him by Daily.
DAILYS RELATIONS WITH MR.. KENNEDY.
Mr.. j. H. Soule, the present owner OF the lot on
NJ street, between 14th and 18th streets, formerly
owned by the parents OF John Daily, the muir.
| derer, was interviewed by the representative OF
| THE STAR this morning and made the following
statement:
sIn November last bought from Mr. Kennedy
the property known as Nc. 1432 NJ street. and
during the investigation necessary to determine
| the validity OF the title became somewhat ac-
quainted with the history OF the Dailys and incl
dentally learned that John Daily entertained
feelings OF enmlty against Mr.. Kennedy on &C.
(Mf. Kennedy'S purchase OF the lot rom Johns
| father. was unable to discover, however, that
he had any just cause for hard feelings SO Tar as
| Mr.. Kennedy was concerned, or that Mr.. Ken.
nedy had acted In any manner other
than fairly. and honora6ly toward any
| or the parties concerned. The property came
into the possession Of MIR. Kennedy iu 1853 and In
1876 he decided One-half the lot TO Michael Daily
Ond tho other half to Wtn1fred his Wife, Wtn1fred